Parity - 9. Topher - "False Witness"

It was the first morning he'd slept in since he was very young. Five o'clock came and went, as did six, seven and eight. No running on the beach today. It was getting increasingly upsetting to have Kevin fail to show up every single time. He was no stranger to going for a run on his own. He enjoyed it in the past. But now, the salty taste of sea air on his lips only reminded him that he wanted Kevin in ways he shouldn't, and Kevin was rejecting him. Okay, Dad, Topher thought glumly with his covers pulled up over his head. You win. You did everything you could to tear us apart, and now he doesn't want to see me anymore. Not even as a friend. If this is the Lord's will, then who am I to question it? There's no doubt what it means. It's not supposed to be. Thank you, Jesus. I get it now. Perhaps I should just let Harper call me her boyfriend after all.

It had been a strange couple of days. Peatsland was such a sweet, beautiful place, but he didn't realise how ugly it could be. Maverick Matsuda, the peculiar but intriguing classmate in English Literature, had been beaten so severely he stayed in the hospital overnight with a concussion. Topher was scared. It was a godless place, and he was in over his head. No witnesses and nobody charged with assault, even when the police came to investigate. Maverick reportedly took a bad knock to the head and didn't remember who did it, either that, or he was too scared of his attackers to name them. They should be expelled and jailed! Who could do that to another person? Knowing that people like that were in his classes and around him during lunch periods... he did not know if he could face it again. Waiting for his turn to be interviewed by the police and the principal... this would never happen at Saint Joseph's.

I should visit him, Topher thought guiltily as he clutched Percy bear closer to his chest. He has no friends. Nobody to be there for him. Perhaps I could make his day better. Would he even want to see me?

Dom: < hey what u doing 2day? >

Topher: < Praying for Maverick. I didn't sleep well. How are you? >

Dom: < tru that was brutal shit 😕 dont waste ur prayers on him lol im ok, working soon zzz >

Topher: < Who did that to him? >

Dom: < tbh it could b anyone, he's a horrible person and a lot of ppl hate him. he probably deserved it >

Topher: < Why hasn't anybody said anything? I don't get it. I don't feel safe anymore. >

Dom: < sorry man, ill keep u safe nobody fucks with a mutant like me lol >

That's so sweet of him, Topher thought with a smile. It didn't make him feel like he wouldn't be beaten mercilessly when he went to the school bathroom, but it did make him feel less alone. The transition between schools had been smooth until yesterday. He was losing Kevin. Zack, as much as Topher remained sour on him, was leaving, and Harper was already spreading the word that the two were an item now. Unfortunately, everyone saw them kiss, so they took her word for it. Selena and Reima were quite lovely, of course, but they were still strangers. Gwen was dissolving in front of his very eyes, and Father Jon was weak of both mind and heart. Dominic was the only person Topher felt he could count on, and that awful boy was continually torturing him.

The blond boy clenched his fists as he thought about Veikko. A creature fueled by little more than spite and malice whose only intent was to hurt those who cared about him. Jon and Gwen, as well as his friends and church community, all warned him to stay away from Veikko. Topher was surprised when he saw that Veikko wasn't the monster they all believed him to be.

He was so much worse than that!

They hated him because he was an unrepentant homosexual, but that wasn't why Topher disliked him. Dom was a pure soul, kind and gentle, and Veikko had never done anything but take advantage of him. People like that don't deserve friends. His soul carried the taint of Lucifer's touch; there was no doubt about that.

"Are you still in bed?" Jon's voice stirred him, and Topher meekly peeked above the covers. He'd been worried his father would chastise him for his laziness, but the man was smiling. Oh, okay. Jon had been impossible to work out since they confirmed that Gwen was on her way to Heaven. He was still the funny, loving father he'd always known, but the shock of losing her had damaged their relationship in so many ways. "You are!" Jon laughed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I thought you hadn't come back from the beach yet."

"I didn't feel like going to the beach," Topher replied glumly, curling into a ball.

"And you feel like spending all your daylight under these covers?" Jon shook his head. "This is about what happened yesterday, isn't it?"

"Yes," Topher, wary that he was naked under his sheets and that he'd been cuddling Percy bear all night and morning long, both things disapproved of by his father. "That boy is in hospital. I don't know how you could make me go to a place like that."

"I thought you were enjoying yourself," Jon frowned in confusion. "You were beside yourself talking about the classes and the teachers. Are you going to let one little incident ruin all that?"

"It's not one little incident!" Topher covered his eyes with his golden tanned arm. "He's in hospital, Dad! With a concussion. Someone hurt him so badly that he had to go away in an ambulance!"

"He would have brought it on himself," Jon stated bluntly, reaching over and smoothly petting his son's fair hair. "You look just like your mother, you lucky son of a gun. It looks like the Lord saw fit not to give you my nose and ears."

"Don't change the subject!" Topher pleaded. "You always change the subject when I'm trying to talk to you."

"What do you want me to say?" Jon sighed. "Maverick Matsuda is a cocaine baby born out of sin to a heathen family. Do you expect anything better from him?"

"Nobody deserves to be beaten up like that!" Topher snapped, causing his father to recoil in surprise and take his hand away. "Nobody, Dad! And it could happen to me! "

"It would never happen to you," Jon stood up and stood over his boy. "And I don't appreciate this new attitude of yours."

"So let me go back to Saint Joseph's!" Topher sulked, snuggling into his cocoon and turning on his side away from his father. "I was happy there. I had friends and I had the Church. Why are you trying so hard to ruin everything for me?"

"That's not what I'm doing," Jon put his hand on his son's shoulder to pull him back. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, please."

"Sorry," Topher immediately apologised, his sorrowful blue eyes meeting with the dark green-brown of his father's.

"This is all temporary, Chris," Jon continued, and Topher felt his heart grow heavy. He calls me Chris when he's mad. When I've misbehaved or sinned. When I'm not being the role model I was raised to be. I hate being Chris. "You're a very privileged young man. You know that. Your mother and I learned there was no chance we'd ever have children, and we accepted that for twenty long years--"

"I'm not some miracle baby, okay!" Topher slithered back under his covers, his face pink with the shame of his tantrum. He expects me to be some secular saint, as though my birth was divine intervention. Let's face it. If our Lord did have a hand in that, he would have given my parents a son they could be proud of. Not me. Not some... awful gay boy. Nobody likes a sissy boy after all.

"You are," Jon threw the covers off his son's face.

Topher made an effort to kill his frown - and what an effort. All he wanted was to sulk and brood and cry. Just one day. For one day he wanted only to be Topher. Not Chris. That perfect holy son. He dresses perfectly, he's kind and respectful, he sets a positive example to not just the community, but the world as we know it, and most importantly he is a pious Catholic who dreams of dating Harper and will wait until marriage to even see her naked. Christopher Lynch? No, all of that was a lie. Everything seemed to be a lie. His budding relationship with Harper - false. His image as Chris Lynch - false. His friendship with Dominic - false, now that he lied to put that drama he caused behind him.

"You're also a teenager," Jon managed to revert to a smile, and Topher narrowed his round eyes in confusion. "Things are rough for you, junior. I understand, and I'm sorry if I'm pushing you too hard. I need to be hard on you so that you can be the best Topher you can be - and I'm always going to be proud of you. Just hold on, okay? Things will get easier. Things will work out."

"Okay," Topher replied quietly.

What was the point of arguing? His father never listened anyway. Only six months ago, Topher idolised him. He wanted to be just like him. A man of the cloth. Now, all he saw was the frailty and ugliness in his father's heart. Jon preached that tragedy made the heart grow stronger, but that was yet another lie. Topher watched his father wither and buckle from the moment Gwen started getting sick, and he resented him for it. All those sermons and lectures about building character from the tests of the Lord, and he went to pieces the first time something went wrong for him. How easy it was to preach about sacrifice and loss when it wasn't happening to him. Look at him now. Who was he to call anyone a sissy boy?

"I love you, Junior," Jon kissed his son on the forehead. "Make sure you're out by noon, alright? It's not a good look for a fit, young boy to stay in his bed all day long."

"Soon," Topher agreed and swallowed the ill feeling that bubbled in his throat at his father's words. "I love you too."

One day I'm going to have to stop lying to him, Topher thought as his father left the room, leaving the door wide open. He's going to hate me when he sees me for who I really am. Topher. Not Chris.

Topher: < Have a great day Dom >

Dom: < u too ❤️ >

It was perhaps half an hour later when Topher slunk out of his bed, threw a fresh pair of pyjama bottoms into his wash basket and hopped in the shower. As had become standard these days, he slipped his hand between his legs and jerked himself to thoughts of Kevin. In here, there was no shame. No guilt. He and Kevin were allowed to kiss. To touch each other and just... be with each other. In here, Kevin was not afraid of his feelings. Neither was Topher. There was no reason to be, after all. It was only the love they had between them, and love is the Holiest thing of all. Above all, let your love for one another be intense because love covers a multitude of sins. Peter 4:8.

And yet, as he approached orgasm, he couldn't help but think of Dominic. That goofy smile, the broad, flat nose and that intoxicating tā moko on his shoulder. Those lovely brown eyes that crinkled in the corners and... those biceps and pectorals. The tanned brown legs. He is... quite attractive, isn't he? Ahh... ahh! Oh, my gosh. Topher panted in the wake of his intense climax, the lovely hot water pelting him and poaching his tanned body. Oh. Oh. It was terrific, one of the best he'd had, but he did suddenly feel guilty. It was as though he'd been unfaithful to Kevin Zhang. But why? Kevin doesn't want anything to do with me after all. I want my friend back.

"Oh, come on Junior, I think you can do better," Jon looked disapprovingly at his son. "You're not going into town dressed like that, are you?"

"It's forty degrees outside," Topher looked down at his slim-fitting azure tanktop, loose purple shorts and blue flipflops. He rarely got to wear any of these clothes because it was unbecoming and immodest. "I don't want to sweat in my nice clothes all day. I want to visit the hospital; then I want to spend some time at the beach."

"You have a reputation to protect. Proper clothes and fix your hair, please," Jon lectured him, sipping from his cup of iced tea. He was having a rare Saturday off, so he would be dealing with Gwen today. Good. Topher had seen his real mother one last time a few days ago, and he'd finally said everything he needed to tell her. I love you. I'll miss you. Goodbye. That woman disappeared again after he'd fallen asleep in her embrace. He... he was okay with that. He was at peace. Jon was not, though.

"Okay," Topher glumly nodded his head and sidled away as his father gave him an approving smile, his mouth full of his cold beverage. Topher was angry and miserable at the same time as he stripped off. He put on his ivory coloured button shirt over his tank top and a pair of black slacks over his shorts, then slipped his bare feet into his loafers. After fixing up his hair in the mirror with mousse and hairspray, he then presented himself for his father's approval, a hug and a kiss before ducking his way outside before he and his father could argue any more than they already had. It wasn't happy, free Topher who made his way to the bus stop. It was sad, repressed Chris.

The Royal was a pretty nice hospital. The Catholic Church did not fund it, so he had never been in here as a patient. Several times though, he'd come to visit friends, members of the community and strangers alike. Often on Christmas and Easter, he would donate some of his time to visit those who were unable to make it home to be with their families, particularly in the pediatric ward. He felt a twinge of guilt as he passed the fork that would lead him to the psychiatric ward. He was not intimidated by the stigma and reputation of that area of the hospital. When all is said and done, the brain is still just an organ, and it can fail in the same way a kidney can. It was because he was here during Christmas, and Dominic was in there, alone and miserable. Topher decided to skip that unit this time because he wanted to spend more time with his sick mother. If only I'd known. I would have told him that he wasn't alone. That I'd pray for him. We didn't know each other back then, but maybe I could have helped him.

Maverick Matsuda looked dreadful. It was all mostly superficial, according to a nurse. No broken bones, but he had a lot of bruises and a concussion, as well as a loss of memory. After the barbarians savaged him, that was a lucky result for him - it could have been a lot worse. Topher didn't care what his father thought. Jesus was smiling down on Maverick. Keeping him safe. Perhaps he is rough around the edges, but that doesn't mean his heart is in the wrong place. By Maverick's side, two girls looked up at Topher. One he recognised - Ember, the brilliant girl who was looking to graduate high school and move into university by the end of this year. The other he didn't recognise, but she looked much like the Maverick and Ember. They were both beautiful. The older girl had a cross on a golden chain around her neck that caught Topher's eye.

"Can we help you?" The older girl asked, holding Maverick's hand. He was shirtless in his bed, and purple and black welts and bruises marked his pale skin.

"Hello," Topher shyly waved over to them. Ember's eyes softened in recognition and she beckoned him over.

"Hi, Chris, right?" She asked, a smile opening up her narrow face. Maverick looked at him with a blank face. Oh, he doesn't know who I am right now, Topher thought sadly. That's a shame.

"Hi, it's Topher if you don't mind," he replied, flashing the warm smile he was used to wearing to make his father and community happy. "I'm in Maverick's year, and I wanted to come and make sure he's okay."

"You could try askin' me," Maverick quipped with that smirk and hoarse voice Topher recognised. "What are you doin' here?"

"I was worried," Topher approached the bed, in awe of the intricate tattoo all over the boy's body. "I wanted to see that you're alright. How are you?"

"I'm fantastic!" Maverick gave a thumbs up and managed a chuckle. "Toph, meet my sisters! You know Em, and this is Sera. They're both single, by the way."

Ember grinned. She shared her brother's sense of humour. Sera didn't look as impressed, though. Still, both girls shook his hands. Sera spoke something briefly in another language - presumably Japanese - and Ember replied before the two girls giggled and began making their way out.

"We'll be back after lunch, alright?" Ember reached across to pinch her brother's nose before leaving, and he playfully glared at her. "Nice meeting you, Topher."

"Take care of him while we're away!" Sera winked from the doorway.

"Oh mate, you are so in," Maverick winced and grunted as he sat up in his bed. How can someone do that to you? Could they do that to me?

"What?" Topher sat down in the newly vacated seat and blushed pink.

"That's what Sera said," Maverick snickered. "She thinks you're hot. So does Em."

"They did not!" Topher looked away, putting his face into his hands. "Stop teasing me!"

"Oh, you are just adorable, ay?" Maverick continued teasing him. Topher laughed. "Why are you here, though? You don't know me. You don't owe me anything."

"It was a horrible thing that happened to you," Topher drew the chair up so he was closer. Maverick didn't look nearly so intimidating here. Up close, covered in bruises and snug in his hospital bed, he was smaller and even vulnerable. "What happened, Maverick? Who would do something like that to you? Why haven't you told anybody about it?"

"I don't remember," Maverick's small eyes glossed over and they softened. "I... I have no idea. I don't know what happened. I was at school. I gave Veikko a sketch and... then I was here. Do you know anything? Does anyone? I... I don't fuckin' remember. I'm sorry." He gave a hard laugh.

"Oh, my gosh," Topher's eyes misted up, and he scooted close in his chair. The poor guy. Imagine waking up in hospital, bruised and battered, with no recollection of how or why. Nobody deserves this. "I don't think anybody knows anything. The police questioned everybody in both the Eleventh and Twelfth year, but... nobody saw anything, I think. I'm sorry."

"Well, I s'pose that's not a surprise," Maverick croaked in his unique voice. "I'm not what you'd call a popular person. Even if peeps knew about it, I don't reckon they'd say anything or do anything to help me out. Not for some worthless little delinquent like me. I'm just... a fuck up." Maverick sniffed sadly and brought a hand to his eye, and Topher's heart broke in two. He reached across and put his hand on Maverick's bare shoulder, and fought back his own tears. Maverick looked down at Topher's bronzed hand, and the blond boy felt shaky, pale fingers gently place themselves on it and squeeze.

"I have no idea what say," Topher told him, looking into his eyes. Maverick had his long hair tied back, and for the first time, Topher saw his whole face. His was an austere kind of handsome. His features were unusually sharp, in particular, his eyes, nose and his heart-shaped face with a widow's peak hairline. That being said, he looked so vulnerable for the first time. He was smaller than Topher was, slighter in build and shorter too. He was pale all over, his skin coloured by angry bruises and welts. His lips, although they introduced a level of softness to a stern face, were split and bloody. Topher had been intimidated by him in their classes together that week, but now, in this bed with tears in his eyes and shame on his face, he was but a forlorn, lonely puppy.

"Thanks for coming, Toph," Maverick said after a long pause. "It means a lot." Maverick released Topher's hand and winced as he repositioned himself. This is inhumane. He couldn't believe what some people were capable of doing to one another. "I don't have a lot o' mates to come 'n' check on me. This is the best surprise, man."

"Good!" Topher smiled warmly down at him. "I'm gonna pray for you as hard as I can, okay? I hope you get your memory back soon. Whoever did this to you needs to be punished."
"I'm sure karma will give 'em exactly what they deserve," Maverick shrugged nonchalantly, then he looked to his hands. "Probably best I blacked it out. It probably wasn't pretty, ay."

"That's why I hope you do," Topher uncomfortably hugged himself. "Whoever beat you up needs to be expelled and prosecuted! What if it happens again? What if someone else gets hurt?"

"Don't be a drama queen," Maverick laughed and winced in pain. "I'm the freak of Peatsland, didn't ya know? Shit happens. You're safe. Even if you weren't a harmless little cutie pie, you've got Dom Faye watchin' yer back. In both the figurative and literal sense, I mean. He checks out that arse of yours every chance he gets."

"What?" Topher's eyes bugged, and he nearly choked on his surprise.

"Yeah, man! He's got it bad, and don't think I haven't seen you sneakin' a peek at him when he's not lookin'," Maverick teased him cheekily, making Topher turn a shade of deep red and look nervously at his shoes. "He's so into you, man. He's just scared of tellin' you because of the whole religion thing."

"I don't think I want to talk about this if that's alright," Topher pulled a Snickers bar out of his bag, and Maverick gave a cry of pure joy, one that cheered Topher up considerably. "I saw you with one of these the other day at school, so I thought you might appreciate something to make you feel better."

"Mate, you've put me on top of the fuckin' world!" Maverick exclaimed, gratefully taking the king-sized bar of chocolate from his new friend. "Veikko was around earlier, but he didn't bring me shit."

"Veikko Carlisle?" Topher was stunned. What was he doing here? Seeing Maverick? Dominic was in the hospital for nearly a month and Veikko never once visited. Dom can't know about this. That little... cretin!

"Unless you know another Veikko, yeah that's him," Maverick grinned, slowly unwrapping his prize. "Thanks for coming, Toph. Can I say one more thing before ya head off?"

"Uh--" Topher nodded. "Sure."

"If you wanna fuck boys, just do it," Maverick shrugged, and Topher flinched at his bluntness. "There ain't a reason to feel bad about it. You won't be alive long enough to waste it feeling shit for no reason. Yer heart knows what it wants, so fuck what everyone else thinks. If you like big man Faye, you can probably be out with him as early as tomorrow."

"I hope you feel better soon, Maverick," Topher smiled down at him and passed down a piece of paper. "If you're ever lonely or you need someone to talk with, give me a text or a call, okay? I hope you're back in school by next week."

"Cheers, friend," Maverick waved happily, cramming an obscene length of Snickers into his mouth. He's not a mellow guy, Topher thought shyly. But it's nice to be around someone like him. The three things Topher's life seemed to be consist of were lies, deception and diplomacy. Some plain truths were incredibly refreshing.

Topher: < Hey Dom, would you like to see me tomorrow? We could hang out. Just the two of us. >

Dom: < ye sure, when and where? >

Topher: < I'm free from around one o'clock. Would you like to come to the beach like we planned a week ago? >

Dom: < yessss im not working 2morrow, got the day off! best way 2 spend it! >

Oh, good. Topher smiled brightly when he saw his friend's reply. He did not yet know what he intended to do, whether he wanted to pursue Maverick's advice or not, but he did know one thing. He missed Dominic. He wanted to see him. Nobody had ever been generous and kind to him the way the Maori boy had. As much as he adored Kevin Zhang, his best friend always had a habit of criticising Topher's more... feminine characteristics - putting him down for being a sissy boy. Dominic didn't just tolerate those parts of Topher. He embraced them. But... he isn't Kevin. Kevin and I got baptised together. We got all our communions together. We've been together from the very beginning, and I've always... loved him. Even when he hurts me like this, I still love him. Oh, dear. No matter what I do, what I choose, somebody has to be let down. For every choice, it will always be my father who ends up most upset. He will not forgive me. He felt a twinge of resentment in his heart. He will not even do right by me. Or Mum. Why should I keep compromising myself for him? Why does it matter what he thinks? Deep in thoughts, was not quite ready for the reception he received when he made it home.

"Oh! Harper?" Topher nearly choked on his tongue when she galloped towards him and greeted him with a hug and a happy laugh. It wasn't a good idea, in his mind. Because of the clothes he'd been forced to wear, he was sweating even through his antiperspirant. He can't have smelled great.

"Took you long enough! Didn't you get my message?" Harper asked into his ear, before pulling back to kiss him briefly on the lips. Jon and Gertie Peterson, Harper's mother, both chuckled at the display. Topher was so embarrassed. He'd just been thinking about whether he wanted to kiss Dominic or Kevin. Harper had come up sporadically in his thoughts during the day, but at no point did he think about kissing her. She did look lovely today, though. She was wearing an elegant white sundress, and she'd woven her hair into a chestnut plait underneath the white hairband.

"I haven't looked at my phone, I'm sorry!" He put on his show-business smile and weaselled out of her grip. This sucked. He was looking very forward to taking off his clothes and running down to the waves by himself. "I wanted to wish one of my classmates well in the hospital."

"You're a terrific lad," Gertie complimented him from behind thick glasses and a trendy white and red haircut. "Conscientious. Spiritual. Handsome, as well. My Harper's had her eye on you for such a long time."

"Mum!" Harper scoffed at her, turning pink and causing more condescending laughs from the two parents in the kitchen.

"What are you kids planning for the rest of the day, hmm?" Jon asked with a cheerful smile on his wrinkling face. He'd been forty-five when Topher was born, and Gwen at forty-three. The miracle baby. Another lie. "If you're going out in the sun, remember to wear your hats and your sunscreen."

"Maverick's doing well, by the way," Topher's reply was tinged with bitterness, even though he did his best to hide it. "He should be back at school by Tuesday."

"Oh, yes, I heard about that on the news!" Gertie exclaimed, putting her hands over her face. "Topher, darling, how are you feeling about that? Are you alright?"

Why can't my Dad do that? Why can't he recognise that I'm unhappy, or even listen to me when I tell him, and why can't he just be there for me? Why does he pretend everything's okay when it's not?

"I'm not feeling great about it," Topher admitted, and Jon's eyes looked at him. They were full of guilt, he saw. Well... good! "I'll feel better when Maverick remembers who beat him up so they can be expelled and arrested!"

"Oh, boys will be boys," Jon waved him off, and Topher felt his resentment amplify in the pit of his stomach. That was always his excuse when someone, usually Zack, harassed or picked on Topher, who was raised always to turn the other cheek. Don't be a sissy boy, Jon would tell him. Nobody likes a sissy boy. I'm not okay, Dad. I'm not a sissy boy. I'm scared! I'm allowed to be scared!

"I don't know, Jon, that sounds like it could have been scary," Gertie shook her head. "Well, sweetie, you've always been family to me, even before you started courting my girl. If you ever want to talk about it, you know where to find me, okay?"

"Ew, Mum!" Harper rolled her eyes, embarrassed at her mother's sappiness in front of her new hot stud boyfriend. "Topher isn't some pansy, you know."

"It's appreciated, Mrs Peterson," Topher smiled sweetly. I need to keep up appearances for now. "I'm sure I'll be just fine, but thank you very much for that offer."

"Do you head to the beach?" Harper asked excitedly, and Topher feigned interest. He did. But not with her. Not today.

"Sure, I'll go and change," Topher smiled amiably, looking cautiously at the watchful adults. He was in over his head. I don't want this relationship, but if I say so, they'll all be so angry at me for leading her on. Oh, bother.

"You stay right here, missy!" Jon teased young Harper, who looked as though she was going to follow him. "No girls upstairs!"

Or Kevin, Topher thought miserably as he scaled up the stairs. Those long days of watching television on Topher's bed, the terrific chats and the sleepovers. We'll never be allowed to have those again. Was it worth it? Losing everything for those kisses? Topher thought so. Kissing Kevin ignited fires within him that he'd never felt before in his life. Harper didn't come close. He shed his clothes and wore only his boardshorts. For a trip to the beach, that was all he needed. He let his hair loose on his face the way he liked it. What's wrong with you? Topher sighed heavily. Why are you such a problem? Why can't you be happy as Chris? Why can't that be good enough for you? On his way downstairs, he heard his mother gently snoring in her room and quietly poked his head inside. Her greying hair matted itself to her head, and she looked peaceful. Oh, Mama. Why can't you go to Heaven? You'll be so much happier there. We'll all be so much happier when you're there and not suffering anymore. I hate seeing you like this. I hate seeing Dad like this.

"Wow, what are you doing?" Jon frowned as Topher re-emerged, clad only in his shorts and a cap to shield his face. "We have guests, junior! I think you should cover up a little, don't you? Especially in front of Harper!"

"It's nothing we haven't seen before," Gertie broke in with her cheesy grin. "It's just down the road to the beach; I don't see any harm in it! Do you think you can keep your hands off him, Harp?"

"Mum!" Harper once again scolded her mother for embarrassing her. "I'm not some slut. He has his shirt off all the time!"

"We've been friends since Harper was born," Topher shrugged, now shyly hiding his chest behind his arms. Harper often wore her swimsuit under her dress on the weekends in Summer in case plans took her to a swimming pool or the beach. She was clever and prepared like that. "I don't see why it would be awkward now where it wasn't before."

"You don't?" Gertie teased them both. Jon grinned. Oh, adults think the worst of everything. Why do they think we wouldn't be able to keep our hands off each other? They were the ones who brought us up to respect our bodies and wait for marriage. Besides, we're both too young to do that. I will be seventeen in five months, and Harper will be fifteen in three.

"Hey, girls, I just want to have a quick talk with junior," Jon got up and walked out to the hallway, beckoning his son to come along. Topher shot an angsty look towards his girlfriend and Gertie, who had that now irritating grin still on her face, and joined his father before shutting the door behind him.

"I'm happy that you're ready to start dating, don't get me wrong," Jon put a hand on his son's shoulder. "But you need to remember that Harper is younger than you and she hasn't matured as far as you have."

"What do you mean?" Topher asked. Harper, if anything, was lightyears ahead of him. She had initiated everything so far. The kiss, the relationship and even the visit today.

"Heh," Jon gave a nervous laugh. "She's going through hormones, okay? And you're a strapping young man. You've got the muscles and the abs that drive girls crazy, and Harper is going through that stage. I think perhaps it would be better to avoid temptation altogether by wearing a shirt when she's around, don't you think? I know you're a good, respectful young man and you will do the right thing by her, but while she's still getting used to the changes in her body, she might be wanting to be... physical. Do you understand?"

"Oh!" Topher blushed and giggled. "I see. I won't be tempted, Dad. I promise." There were underlying reasons for that, but his father didn't need to know about them just yet. Not until Topher had finished working everything out. "I will do that from now on unless we're going swimming."

"You're a good lad," Jon kissed him on the forehead and drew him into a hug. "I knew you would be. Now, go and have fun. Remember, sharing a kiss or two is harmless fun, but don't get too carried away. I love you, Junior!"

"I love you too, Dad," Topher pulled away and returned to the kitchen where Harper was lathering a generous amount of sunscreen on her face, arms and legs. Going out with Harper wasn't going to be awful, after all. He just really wished it was Kevin instead of her. A reassuring thought brought a happy smile to his face.

Tomorrow, it's Dominic.